Wedge-lock band clamp



S pt 1964 E. WECKESSER WEDGE-LOCK BAND CLAMP Filed Sept. 25, 1963INVENTOR- fi/Am llmsj 5K BY Z United States Patent 3,149,808 WEDGE-LOCKBAND CLAMP Ethan Weckesser, Chicago, 111., assignor to WeckesserCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of illinois Filed Sept. 25, 1963,Ser. No. 311,364 3 Claims. (Cl. 24874) My invention relates to certainnew and useful improvements in a wedge-lock band clamp especiallydesigned and adapted for use in permanently clamping a bundle ofelectrical cables or conductor wires together.

An object of the invention is the provision of providing a band clampwhich, when adjusted to clamp together a bundle of electrical cables orconductor wires, cannot be removed other than by cutting the clamp fromclamping position with respect to such bundle of electrical cables orconductor wires, and one which cannot be shaken loose by reason ofvibration or the like.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to associatewith such clamp a hanger to facilitate supporting from a mounting boardor panel a bundle of electrical cables or conductor wires.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hanger embodied in the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wedge embodied in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention shown in clamping positionand attached to a mounting panel or the like;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken substantially on line5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the clamp.

The several objects of my invention are preferably accomplished by thepreferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. Myimproved wedgelock band clamp is preferably formed on non-corrosivenon-conductive material, such, for example, nylon.

In its preferred form of construction, the clamp comprises an elongatedstrap 10. One end portion of the strap 10 is tapered as at 11 to providea tapered tongue. The opposite end of the strap 10 has formed thereon aT-shaped head 12. On one side of the strap 10 and extending between thetongue 11 and head 12, the strap is provided with ratchet teeth 13extending transversely of the strap.

The head 12 is provided with a Wedge-receiving opening 14 communicatingwith a strap-receiving opening 16, together forming a substantiallyT-shaped opening extending transversely of the long axis of the strap.Extending transversely of the head 12 and along one edge 17 of thestrap-receiving opening 16 are ratchet teeth 18-.

A non-removable wedge plate 19 is press-fitted through the opening 14.The outer surface 20 of the plate 19 is provided with spacedtransversely extending tapered grooves 21 which are adapted toselectively receive a rib 22 formed on the head 12 within andtransversely of the opening 14. The wedge plate 19 is positioned in thewedge-receiving opening 14 by snapping the same therein so that itcannot be self-displaced or removed from the head 12.

In use, the strap 10 is positioned to embrace a bundle of electricalcables or conductor wires with the ratchet teeth 13 of the strap 10engaging the bundle. The tongue "ice 11 is fed through the opening 16 ofthe head 12 against the wedge plate 19 and drawn through such opening totightly embrace the strap ltl about the bundle of cables or conductorwires. When thus tightly positioned to embrace such bundle, the ratchetteeth 13 of the strap 10 will become engaged with the ratchet teeth ofthe head 12. The teeth 13 and 18 will be locked in such engagement bythe wedge plate 19 which is forced through the opening 14 of the head 12in a direction to cause the rib 22 to snap into either one of thetapered grooves 21, according to the position of the wedge plate 19 withrespect to the head 12.

When thus arranged, the wedge plate 19 cannot be dislodged and as itwedges the ratchet teeth 13 and 18 into interlocking relation withrespect to each other, the strap 10 cannot become loosened in itsembracing position about the bundle of cables or conductor wires. Shouldoccasion require that the strap be removed, it will require that a knifeor other cutting instrument be employed to cut the strap 10.

To complete the invention, I provide upon the strap 10 a hanger 23. Thishanger 23 includes a body 24 having an opening 25 formed therein throughwhich the strap 10 is slidably received. The hanger 23 is provided withan integral tab 26 having an opening 27 therethrough for the passage ofa connecting element 28 such as a nail, screw or the like, to effectuateconnecting the mounting tab to a mounting panel or board 29 in positionto support the bundle of electrical cables or conductor wires.

While I have shown the hanger as being slidable relative to the strap 10for the purpose of properly and conveniently locating the tab withrespect to the strap 10 to facilitate connection to a mounting panel, itmay be found desirable to form the hanger as an integral part of thestrap 10. In so doing, the hanger will be located at a point upon thestrap 10 which will be most suitable for conveniently connecting the tabto the mounting panel or board.

While my improved wedge-lock band strap is designed especially forsecuring together a plurality of electrical cables or conductor wires ina bundle, it may be used for other purposes.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A wedge-lock band clamp for the purposes herein described comprising(a) an elongated flexible strap having over the greater part of itslength on one long side thereof a plurality of transversely extendingratchet teeth terminating just short of the opposite ends of the strap,

(b) one end of the strap having a head formed there- (c) said headhaving a wedge-receiving opening and an intercommunicatingstrap-receiving opening formed therein,

(d) one end of said strap being tapered to provide a tongue tofacilitate insertion of said strap through said strap-receiving opening,

(e) one wall of said strap-receiving opening providing a plurality ofratchet teeth adapted to have interlocking engagement with the ratchetteeth of said strap when said strap is inserted through saidstrap-receiving opening,

3,149,ses

(f) a Wali of said wedge-receiving opening having a transverse ribformed thereon,

(g) a non-removable Wedge plate carried by the head and snap-fitted intosaid wedge-receiving opening and adapted to Wedge said strap in saidstrap-receiving opening to effect interlocking engagement of the ratchetteeth of said strap with the ratchet teeth of said strap-receivingopening,

(it) said Wedge plate having in one side thereof a transverselyextending tapered groove,

(1') said rib adapted to be snap-fitted into said groove when said wedgeplate is forced in said wedge-receiving opening to Wedge the ratchetteeth of said strap into said interlocking engagement with the ratchetteeth of said strap-receiving opening.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the inclusion or" ahanger carried by the strap and including a tab adapted for connectionto a support.

3. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the inclusion of ahanger for said strap, said hanger comprising a body having an openingslidably receiving said strap and a tab integral with said body forconnection to a support.

References (Jilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,979,794 Bartoto Apr. 18, 1961 3,009,220 Fein Nov. 21, 1961 3,049,771Liturn et a1 Aug. 21, 1962

1. A WEDGE-LOCK BAND CLAMP FOR THE PURPOSES HEREIN DESCRIBED COMPRISING(A) AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE STRAP HAVING OVER THE GREATER PART OF ITSLENGTH ON ONE LONG SIDE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDINGRATCHET TEETH TERMINATING JUST SHORT OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE STRAP,(B) ONE END OF THE STRAP HAVING A HEAD FORMED THEREON, (C) SAID HEADHAVING A WEDGE-RECEIVING OPENING AND AN INTERCOMMUNICATINGSTRAP-RECEIVING OPENING FORMED THEREIN, (D) ONE END OF SAID STRAP BEINGTAPERED TO PROVIDE A TONGUE TO FACILITATE INSERTION OF SAID STRAPTHROUGH SAID STRAP-RECEIVING OPENING, (E) ONE WALL OF SAIDSTRAP-RECEIVING OPENING PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF RATCHET TEETH ADAPTEDTO HAVE INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAID STRAPWHEN SAID STRAP IS INSERTED THROUGH SAID STRAP-RECEIVING OPENING, (F) AWALL OF SAID WEDGE-RECEIVING OPENING HAVING A TRANSVERSE RIB FORMEDTHEREON, (G) A NON-REMOVABLE WEDGE PLATE CARRIED BY THE HEAD ANDSNAP-FITTED INTO SAID WEDGE-RECEIVING OPENING AND ADAPTED TO WEDGE SAIDSTRAP IN SAID STRAP-RECEIVING OPENING TO EFFECT INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENTOF THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAID STRAP WITH THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAIDSTRAP-RECEIVING OPENING, (H) SAID WEDGE PLATE HAVING IN ONE SIDE THEREOFA TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING TAPERED GROOVE, (I) SAID RIB ADAPTED TO BESNAP-FITTED INTO SAID GROOVE WHEN SAID WEDGE PLATE IS FORCED IN SAIDWEDGE-RECEIVING OPENING TO WEDGE THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAID STRAP INTOSAID INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAIDSTRAP-RECEIVING OPENING.